- Pakistan 271-8 at stumps on day two of the SCG Test against Australia
- Younus Khan scores his 34th Test century as Nathan Lyon dominates
Today’s match report
Is right about here. See you all tomorrow.
Related: Nathan Lyon spins Australia into strong position despite Younus Khan century
The day in brief
It rained all morning at the SCG, putting a bit of a dampener on Jane McGrath Day, but once play was possible after lunch it was the Younus Khan show. The Pakistani batting hero ended the day undefeated on 136 from 279 deliveries – his 34th Test century and first on Australian soil. It was a knock of sheer class as wickets tumbled around him. The only black mark was his role in the run-out of Azhar Ali, whose 71 was the only other significant contribution.
95th over: Pakistan 271-8 (Younus 136, Yasir 5)
And that is it for day three. Yasir sees off the final delivery from Steve O’Keefe but his side are in real trouble, still well short of the follow-on mark and staring at another big loss to end the series. On a day dominated by rain, and bowlers, Younus Khan scored his 34th Test century and first in Australia to be Pakistan’s shining light. He’s simply a legend of the game.
94th over: Pakistan 270-8 (Younus 135, Yasir 5)
Yasir is the new man at the crease for Pakistan and he’s immediately encircled by close-in fielders, but does the typically, brilliantly Yasir thing and clubs a cross-batted swipe high over mid-on for a boundary off his first ball faced. What a genius. A single follows, but he’s hobbling down the pitch in obvious discomfort from his hamstring strain. “He’s a happy cricketer, isn’t he?” says Bill Lawry, and not for the first time today he’s spot on. As that’s happening we see Matt Renshaw taking a rest in the sheds. Hopefully he’ll be back bigger and better tomorrow after that nasty blow to the head at short leg.
Lyon strikes with a huge off-break! Hooley dooley, that was a gem of a ball from the off-spinner, who pitches it a foot outside off stump and rips it back to remove Wahab. The tailender didn’t know what hit him there. A classic, hugely gratifying wicket from Lyon, who is now getting just rewards for a superb day off bowling.
93rd over: Pakistan 264-7 (Younus 134, Wahab 8)
Am I the only one in a slightly hallucinatory state at this point? 6:40pm is very late for Test cricket. In that light, Younus Khan’s powers of concentration are something to behold. He’s almost grown a beard in this innings. I already had one, but I think it’s grown a bit.
Why are they still playing cricket?
92nd over: Pakistan 263-7 (Younus 134, Wahab 7)
Again Younus is flirting with danger in this over, but he’s also gone steady with excellence for most of the day, so let’s not be too harsh on him. He sweeps perilously off the bowling of Lyon, but survives a scare or two to deny the spinner.
91st over: Pakistan 261-7 (Younus 132, Wahab 7)
I won’t lie folks, this day is really dragging on now. Josh Hazlewood returns for another burst but there’s something a little lethargic about it. Can someone email me another sub-keeper? My fingers are getting sore. Another reminder that we live in a country where there are two televised cricket games on at once. Another half-hour at the SCG and we can all knock off to Big Bash and Chill:
Toss done. Klinger wins and the @ScorchersBBL will bat first! #BBL06pic.twitter.com/ICadZRhWSc
90th over: Pakistan 260-7 (Younus 131, Wahab 7)
This is getting really silly now. After a one-over spell, O’Keefe is gone and Lyon is back. OK. Weirder, Wahab swats at one of the deliveries in this over and appears to hit it twice, though through inattention or perhaps diplomacy, Australia don’t appeal. Next ball Wahab clumps one over the fence at deep mid-wicket. He’s here for a good time, not a long time. There’s a bit of fun as a man attempting to catch that Wahab blow topples over the seat in front and reveals his underwear, whose waistband reads: “THURSDAY”. He missed the catch but he’s nailed his selection of jocks.
89th over: Pakistan 252-7 (Younus 130, Wahab 0)
I guess he might be straining for pace now but Starc errs to the leg side at the start of this over and Younus helps it around the corner for four, then clips a couple through mid-wicket. We’ll have six overs after this one, so Australia at least won’t contend with the headache of what they do without Matt Renshaw, who is off the field being checked following another blow to the head when he was fielding at short leg. P.S. Nathan Lyon wasn’t just changing ends.
88th over: Pakistan 246-7 (Younus 124, Wahab 0)
The definition of surprise: Nathan Lyon’s early appearance in the last over to take that wicket. The definition of incredulity: Nathan Lyon being replaced by Steve O’Keefe to bowl this over. I suppose they might be changing ends, but if not, Lyon has every right to be miffed with Steve Smith’s call. The right-arm spinner has bowled like a dream today. 2-82 from 24 overs doesn’t reflect how good he’s been.
87th over: Pakistan 245-7 (Younus 123, Wahab 0)
This has been a devilish spell from Mitchell Starc and he continues sending them past the outside edge of Younus, who eventually gets off strike with a single. Pakistan are 293 runs behind and also 90-odd behind the follow-on target.
86th over: Pakistan 244-7 (Younus 122, Wahab 0)
Wahab is the new man for Pakistan and he does the team thing to start, defending the last delivery of the Lyon over. Meanwhile, the sub-keepers continue to roll in, this one involving the last one for bonus Mike Veletta points.
@rustyjacko Miandad keeping in the 87 World Cup semi. Mike Veletta again too. pic.twitter.com/fRZs4ssmbm
Amir holes out! Boy oh boy that was ordinary cricket. Smith brings Lyon back into the attack and it works a treat. Amir bizarrely survives and LBW chance when the Australians don’t appeal, but then cracks a drive straight to David Warner at mid-off. Just dismal stuff from a talented player. He won’t want to watch that replay.
85th over: Pakistan 244-6 (Younus 122, Amir 4)
Just to update readers who were away earlier, Peter Handscomb is keeping wicket for Australia because Matthew Wade left the field with a stomach ailment after the second over of play. He’s gone straight to the team hotel to rest and honestly didn’t look too crash hot in the brief spell he had on the ground. Handscomb has done the fill-in job with credit. He has kept for Victoria in Shield cricket, but not for a couple of years. Right now he’s taking plenty of away-duckers from Mitchell Starc, who is making the new ball talk. Even Younus, 240-odd deliveries into this century, cannot lay bat on him in this maiden.
84th over: Pakistan 244-6 (Younus 122, Amir 4)
Wondering what you’ll do with that cash burning a hole in your pocket now that you’ve secured an interest-free loan for that 75” OLED TV? Wonder no more and nab yourself the official, “limited edition” bat honouring the feat. They’ve somehow roped Sir Donald Bradman in too, though I’m assuming the great man wasn’t able to sign any himself. More on that if he has. It’d be the story of the day.
Only thing quicker than David Warner's ton before lunch? The production of the money making memorabilia #AusvPakpic.twitter.com/Y4ZJmAJHSu
Channel 9 now flogging "Powerhouse" memorabilia, commemorating David Warner's Test career ... of 6 Tests. Get in quick. #cricket#ausvind
83rd over: Pakistan 241-6 (Younus 121, Amir 2)
Mohammad Amir is the new man for Pakistan and he gets off the mark with two runs through square leg when Starc strays onto his pads. Peter Handscomb does a power of work to reel in a wide one a few balls later, acrobatically tumbling to stop a ball that might have raced to the fine leg boundary.
Starc strikes! And again it’s sub-fielder Jackson Bird with the catch. Sarfraz has a little width to work with and drives hard towards cover, but it flies off a thick outside edge and Bird drops a little at the knees to snare it above his head. Superb catch. A promising partnership is doneski.
82nd over: Pakistan 239-5 (Younus 121, Sarfraz 18)
Josh Hazlewood is back into the attack to pair with Starc and a two to Younus makes this partnership with 42 from 53 deliveries, and Steve Smith is probably starting to get a little tetchy about that. There’s a decent LBW shout against Younus to end the over but nothing’s doing.
.@rustyjacko part four, niche. Veletta used as keeper in 3rd Texaco in '89 when Healy did hammy. Zoehrer must've been indisposed! pic.twitter.com/rzTLz2XTSt
81st over: Pakistan 236-5 (Younus 119, Sarfraz 17)
Australia take the new ball here and Mitchell Starc gets first go at it. Australia have a second sub fielder on in place of Matt Renshaw. I wonder if it’s an Ed Cowan type situation where he’s been sitting with his mates sinking schooners. Starc could do with a few more mates in the slips here; Younus edges him through about fourth to pick up a boundary. Why do Australia have only two slips? Sheesh. Worse for the home side, the Younus boundary has taken a decent old chunk out of the ball and Starc eyes it like a disobedient pet.
80th over: Pakistan 230-5 (Younus 113, Sarfraz 17)
Lyon gets biffed around a bit to finish his spell, which is a bit of a shame but that’s been his lot today. Unlucky. Sarfraz is proving a bit of a pain here for Australia. I think I”ve mentioned it before, but he does after all possess a better Test batting average than Mark Waugh.
79th over: Pakistan 220-5 (Younus 112, Sarfraz 10)
Speaking of dizzy, I’ve just been knocked out for what I’d have to say is a contender for the best OBO email I’ve ever received. This from Daniel McDonald:
78th over: Pakistan 219-5 (Younus 112, Sarfraz 9)
This hasn’t ended up the spell Lyon wanted but it’s been a very good one. He’ll have one more over before the arrival of the new ball, so it’s closing time at the last chance saloon. We lost a couple of hours earlier in the day, but it’s been a pleasure to watch this Younus Khan century.
The top 10 Test batsmen in terms of matches played to centuries scored. Three are playing in this #AusvPak match. pic.twitter.com/SnYNHWOPJ1
77th over: Pakistan 215-5 (Younus 110, Sarfraz 7)
Clonk! Phew, Matt Renshaw is a lucky boy here. He cops a decent old blow to the head at short leg, ducking into a Sarfraz Ahmed pull shot. Not all that smart, you’d have to say. They’ve asked for a new helmet, but Renshaw appears to be OK. The chaotic over ends with a boundary for Sarfraz, who is having ball.
76th over: Pakistan 209-5 (Younus 110, Sarfraz 1)
Nathan Lyon has only one wicket to show for his efforts in this truncated day of play, but let me tell you, it’s just about the best he’s bowled all summer. Emblematic of his luck is a sweep from Younus in this over, which reaches the fence but also flirted with danger as he only just cleared Josh Hazlewood at backward square leg. It’s the only damage in another bright over from the off-spinner.
75th over: Pakistan 205-5 (Younus 106, Sarfraz 1)
Sarfraz gets in on the act now, sweeping in eye-catching style to get off the mark. As far as Younus goes, there’s a lovely if unintentionally revealing tribute from Michael Clarke, referring to the Pakistan veteran’s impending retirement: “He’ll be missed with statistics like that.”
74th over: Pakistan 202-5 (Younus 104, Sarfraz 0)
He’s done it! Steve Smith had no mercy here, bringing his field in to apply pressure to Younus, but the Pakistani champion reaches his milestone with a lavish sweep to the fence at deep square leg. What a masterful batsman he is. He shakes the hand of Sarfraz, walks a quick lap of the square acknowledging the crowd, then sticks his helmet back on to start again. He’s 108 runs away from 10,000 in Tests. Might he get there in this innings? Maybe. This one took him 208 deliveries, featured 11 boundaries and a six, and confirmed his class. Younus is that rare batsman who has a Test ton against every nation. He’s a superstar.
73rd over: Pakistan 197-5 (Younus 99, Sarfraz 0)
The O’Keefe over ends with one delivery to Sarfraz, but the focus will return to Younus in the next Lyon over. He’s one away from his first Test ton on Australian soil, and his 34th all up.
Shafiq goes to a superb catch from Smith! Wowsers. It looked like an lbw shout to start with but there was a thin inside edge before it hit the pad and Smith keeps his composure to dive for the catch at slip, reeling it in with one hand. The Pakistan pair briefly consider a review but Shafiq departs. To add to the drama, it looked as though Younus had reached his ton moments earlier but Umpire Ravi signalled byes!
72nd over: Pakistan 196-4 (Younus 99, Shafiq 4)
Crunch! Younus is taking the path of least resistance to get to this ton now. He skips down the track to Lyon, frees his arms and clubs a big six over long on to move to 98. He’s 99 with a flick to the leg side and Shafiq sees off the rest.
71st over: Pakistan 189-4 (Younus 92, Shafiq 4)
With the overs ticking down until Australia can take the second new ball, Steve O’Keefe is handed his 12th over and sets about drifting it in to the right-handers. He’s successful too, angling it in to Younus for a big lbw shout. Smith thinks about a review. “I think he hit it,” shouts the bowler, and replays reveal it was outside the line too. A more eventful over than perhaps expected.
70th over: Pakistan 186-4 (Younus 90, Shafiq 3)
Lyon continues to Shafiq, who is off the mark with a canny little late cut for three. Replays show that Hazlewood’s aforementioned muttering was actually a sustained one-way conversation with Shafiq, who did a bit of gardening as the Australian paceman unloaded his frustrations. Umpire Ravi just looked on a bit disinterested. He’s seen it all before. Lyon has a leg slip and a short leg for Shafiq and looks genuinely threatening with his sharp turn and bounce. A testing over, that one.
"Sliding down the leg side with a bit of reverse tang." Why do you get the feeling Warnie also says that outside a cricketing context?
69th over: Pakistan 181-4 (Younus 88, Shafiq 0)
Younus is edging closer to his hundred here but I’ll tell you, there’s nothing inevitable about it. For one, he’s been loose at various stages of this knock. For another, he’s never reached triple figures in a Test innings down under. Remarkable really. He’s reached that mark 33 times in Test (thrice in his last series against Australia!) but never on Australian soil. Josh Hazlewood, meanwhile, is bowling like a dream and sends one fizzing past Shafiq’s outside edge to end this over before muttering something uncomplimentary.
68th over: Pakistan 180-4 (Younus 87, Shafiq 0)
Has Samuel Badree put a hex on me? Perhaps, because I just missed most of that Nathan Lyon over due to a computer crash. [Twilight Zone music]. I’m sorry Samuel Badree. You’re definitely my favourite West Indian spinner in the Big Bash League, I swear.
67th over: Pakistan 179-4 (Younus 86, Shafiq 0)
Replays of the Misbah dismissal are no more kind to the Pakistani legend. Why oh why? There was just no need for it. Lyon had him under the cosh. Everybody knew it. No need to protest so obviously. Shafiq is the new man at the crease for the tourists and by comparison he’s been solid as a rock this summer. Hazlewood works him over but he’s watchful and correct in his defence.
66th over: Pakistan 178-4
Misbah holes out in woeful style! Oh my word. There was a big appeal for a bat-pad catch a ball earlier and perhaps caught up in the heightened mood – or just his own form slump – the Pakistan captain artlessly skies the final delivery of the Lyon over out to deep mid-wicket, where sub-fielder Jackson Bird swallows a simple chance. He was the only man out there! He’ll get another chance in this game I think but if this is how Misbah bows out of Test cricket, what a sad way to depart.
65th over: Pakistan 177-3 (Younus 84, Misbah 18)
We’re back with some quick stuff after tea, with Josh Hazlewood stomping his way towards Misbah. In personal news, I didn’t get time for lunch earlier but just made a successful raid on one of those chocolate-filled Christmas stockings. High on Maltesers, M&Ms and miniature Twix, I promise you nothing less than a sugar-addled stream of consciousness in this third session of the day. We lost the first session to rain. That’s when I should have been eating, I suppose. Lesson learned. Misbah plays out a maiden. He steered clear of the sweets table, judging by his laconic defensive work.
The real victim of that session ...was Hilton Cartwright. Ouchie.
Sky made some amazing montages of the #ENGvPAK series, but this one encapsulating #AUSvPAK is even better. pic.twitter.com/5muB6T1MCg
64th over: Pakistan 177-3 (Younus 84, Misbah 18)
And that is tea. A ring of close-in fieldsmen confronted Misbah at the start of this Lyon over but he did his job, smothering a single around the corner and getting Younus on strike. One sharp turner from Lyon kept low on the later but he survives. It’s been a frustrating day at the SCG but that was a very absorbing session of cricket, with Pakistan making decent progress until Azhar Ali was run out in tragi-comic scenes. Back soon with more.
63rd over: Pakistan 176-3 (Younus 84, Misbah 17)
Maiden for O’Keefe. He’s doing very Steve O’Keefe stuff at the moment. Should we bother? I know his stats are tidy enough, but surely Australia needs to be looking to a decent turner of the ball with an Indian tour approaching.
@rustyjacko I'm still waiting for the PM to pop into the OBO for a chat. What's keeping him?
62nd over: Pakistan 176-3 (Younus 84, Misbah 17)
Again Misbah expertly squirrels a single at the start of the over to avoid Nathan Lyon, and as Younus plays a very awkward and pre-meditated sweep off a full one, I can’t help but think I’m mozzing him by pointing out his lack of a Test century in Australia so far. Will today be the day? Maybe not now that I’ve mentioned it. There’s a big shout for a catch at leg slip when Misbah comes back on strike, but there was no bat on it and the Aussies know it. No review.
61st over: Pakistan 174-3 (Younus 83, Misbah 16)
This is far better from Misbah, who cuts strongly for four and then turns a single around the corner as he begins to find his feet. Younus gets in the spirit too, latching onto some width out off stump and clubbing a half-tracker through cover for a boundary. “That’s a dangerous stroke on this pitch,” says Waqar Younis, but was honestly a buffet item to match the best of Sizzler’s work. Fill your boots, Younus. And avoid the salad.
60th over: Pakistan 165-3 (Younus 79, Misbah 11)
Misbah’s battle continues, though he’s a little more convincing on the sweep in this Lyon over, keeping it down. The unluckiest man in this over is Hilton Cartwright at silly point, who cops a Younus cover drive right in the goolies. Ouch. That looked excruciating. We also have another great sub-keeper nomination:
@danbrettig@rustyjacko How 'bout when Ian Healy did his hamstring in the '92 World Cup? pic.twitter.com/L1SDj8gHtC
59th over: Pakistan 162-3 (Younus 78, Misbah 9)
Misbah faces up to O’Keefe now, and the lefty is mixing up his pace and line, which is the way to go when you don’t spin it much. There’s a slip, a silly point and a short leg in place for Misbah, and Handscomb continues to chirp away as though a wicket is imminent. It’s not until the last delivery of the over that Misbah turns a single, so he’ll face Lyon again next up.
58th over: Pakistan 161-3 (Younus 78, Misbah 8)
He played a truly awful sweep to get out in Melbourne and now Misbah unfurls it again, top edging it beyond David Warner at leg gully but with absolutely no idea it’s cleared him to gather two runs. He just as easily could have departed. The poor bloke is batting so badly at the moment he looks like he’s defending himself with a thin strip of cardboard, not three pounds of English willow. Wisely he gets himself to the non-striker’s end for a breather.
57th over: Pakistan 158-3 (Younus 78, Misbah 5)
We’ll have spin from both ends now with the appearance of Steve O’Keefe, and as he wheels away it’s hard not to notice how well Peter Handscomb has done replicating Matthew Wade’s verbal patter. Channel Nine might need to turn down the volume of the stump mic, he’s blabbering away so often. “Noice, noice,” he bellows at O’Keefe, and it is indeed a tidy start from the left-arm tweaker.
56th over: Pakistan 157-3 (Younus 78, Misbah 4)
Lyon has a big shout against Misbah now when he forces the right-hander onto the back foot, but it’s hit him very high – up on the thigh – so Umpire Illingworth is having none of it. Lyon’s in a superb rhythm early in this spell though; it’s spitting around the place and he’s got Misbah hopping about nervously. We’re 25 minutes from the tea break now and Pakistan have entered a jittery little patch of play.
55th over: Pakistan 156-3 (Younus 78, Misbah 3)
Wowsers. Now Younus almost departs, flicking hazlewood just short of Usman Khawaja at mid-wicket. Misbah gets off the mark with a confidence-boosting cover drive for two and then gets a less convincing inside-edge to leg for one.. Also, finally some sub-keeping posts have arrived:
.@rustyjacko part three, a personal favourite pic.twitter.com/0rVklswGXG
@rustyjacko My favourite by a mile pic.twitter.com/XaQ2Oozt2N
54th over: Pakistan 152-3 (Younus 77, Misbah 0)
Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq comes to the crease now, joining his old colleague Younus but deep in one of his worst ever form slumps. He’s had a Mike Dennessian tour so far. Is today the day his fortunes finally reverse?
Disaster for Pakistan! Nathan Lyon comes into the attack now and after Younus drives him through short mid-wicket, there’s a moment of hesitation in the calling that proves lethal for Azhar, who is run-out by a strong throw from Mitchell Starc at mid-on. The latter zings it in, Peter Handscomb takes it neatly and makes no mistake breaking the stumps. Azhar is out by a good two metres or so. Calamitous for Pakistan.
53rd over: Pakistan 149-2 (Azhar 68, Younus 77)
Another maiden over from Hazlewood, who never fails to deliver on that account. But on the topic of people failing in their task, I can’t believe none of you have arrived with tales of great sub-keepers of day’s gone by. Must I provide all of the esoteric material in this blog?
Best of all was AB sub-keeping. pic.twitter.com/fe6cu9Pm97
52nd over: Pakistan 149-2 (Azhar 68, Younus 77)
Often these days he tends to snarl his way through bowling spells but Mitchell Starc actually manages a smile in this over, in which he’s coming around the wicket to Azhar and from as wide on the crease as he’s allowed. That allows him to angle it at the right-hander while swinging it away, so Azhar has to be disciplined in picking the right ball to drive. Here he abstains completely, but with a slightly rueful grimace that suggests he’d love nothing more than to launch one over cover.
51st over: Pakistan 148-2 (Azhar 68, Younus 76)
Our obligatory injury in this over is to Younus’ bat, and he must love it because he’s applying tape instead of replacing it. Bill Lawry is furious, imploring the umpires to put an end to the delay and force a change of blade. “This is ridiculous!” fumes the former Australian captain. Younus flashes a cheeky smile but Lawry is not impressed: “Cricket is slow enough!” He’s been my man of the match so far, William Morris Lawry. There’s a single to Younus and some more stern stuff from The Haze but the over belongs to Lawry.
50th over: Pakistan 147-2 (Azhar 68, Younus 75)
They’re dropping like flies here. Now Australian skipper Steve Smith has crocked himself, copping a ball to the tender spot below his thumb when he dives low to stop a ball at second slip. Moments later Starc roars one past the outside edge of Azhar with an absolute peach. He can’t believe he hasn’t removed the Pakistan opener. Another maiden, and pressure is quietly building.
Big upsides of Matthew Wade's stomach bug is that he's caught something and he's got the runs.#AusvPak
49th over: Pakistan 147-2 (Azhar 68, Younus 75)
One other thing this partnership is doing is to add further to the disbelief felt when Pakistan crumbled in two sessions on day five at Melbourne. Even witnessing it with my own eyes I couldn’t quite fathom it. Back in Sydney, Hazlewood is working over Younis Khan and again draws a leading edge, but it’s short of gully. There’s also a short mid-wicket in place for that whip shot the Pakistani veteran plays. They’re keeping him honest, but leave cover open to draw a shot. In this over he resists. Maiden.
48th over: Pakistan 147-2 (Azhar 68, Younus 75)
Bang! Azhar Ali gets going now, dropping to one knee and clocking a crisp cover drive past Hilton Cartwright to pick up four bits. He almost departs in similar style a delivery later as Cartwright drives forward to take it on the half volley. The over finishes as it started with Azhar smacking another boundary through cover, taking the ball from well outside off stump and directing it expertly through the gap. He’s been superb in this series.
47th over: Pakistan 139-2 (Azhar 60, Younus 75)
Matthew Wade isn’t the only one hurting at the start of this Josh Hazlewood over as Azhar Ali cops one right where it hurst. “A stomach bug” is the Wade diagnosis from Australia’s doctor Peter Brukner. The keeper will now head back to the team hotel to recuperate, so Peter Handscomb has the job for the rest of the day. He’s doing well so far. Hazlewood is desperately unlucky at the end of the over, drawing Younus forward and into a false stroke, but the thick edge flies through the vacant second slip region and thuds into the fence.
46th over: Pakistan 134-2 (Azhar 59, Younus 71)
“I’m sure there’s been better Prime Minister’s but not a happier one,” says Turnbull, who continues to swivel on his chair as though he’s having root canal work done. Extended periods in a commentary box with Ian Healy can do that to a man, I suppose. Mitchell Starc is not yet doing any dentistry on Younus because his bouncers are off target. Turnbull is really waning as he departs the commentary box. “I’m a former employee of the Nine network, you know?” he says. Mark Taylor and Ian Healy don’t, unsurprisingly. See ya later Malc. It’s been real.
45th over: Pakistan 134-2 (Azhar 59, Younus 71)
More impeccable stuff follows from Hazlewood after his lbw misfortune. “That would have been a big get, wouldn’t it?” says the Prime Minister, in a bit of a “How do you do, fellow kids?” moment. Good on him. He’s having a crack. He’s then challenged by Mark Taylor to replicate Bob Hawke’s drinking feat from day one. He’s not having it. Probably smart.
Oof, Azhar is very lucky that Umpire Ravi didn’t give that in the first instance as it was glancing leg stump. But not enough of it. So he survives. Not for the first or last time this year, I’m sure, Malcolm Turnbull is stumped.
The bowler isn’t so sure, but we’ll now have a look.
44th over: Pakistan 134-2 (Azhar 59, Younus 71)
Hmm, strange start to this over as Matthew Wade departs the ground with an illness, which he’s apparently been suffering all morning. He went out to see whether he could fight it off but concedes defeat quickly, so Peter Handscomb takes the gloves he used to wear in early Sheffield Shield games for Victoria. Is there anything he can’t do? IN a slightly exotic sight, he’s not wearing leg guards but instead the shin pads he dons at short leg. As if we need to be sidetracked with another riff, feel free to email in with your favourite fill-in wicket-keepers. Here’s mine:
Re-post from earlier today but deserves another airing. Chappelli 'keeping for SA in a Shield game, 1979: pic.twitter.com/mU0s7HPu2J
43rd over: Pakistan 132-2 (Azhar 58, Younus 70)
Josh Hazlewood resumes in tandem with Starc and as he does, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull trots into the Nine commentary box with some truly award banter about the composition of the Prime Minister’s XI side. In honour of the replays earlier, I’d be pushing for Dirk Wellham myself. And maybe he can put political alliances aside and get Bob Hawke in, given his form yesterday.
Turnbull must neck a froth in the commentary box or immediately call an election. I don’t make the country’s laws, but there they are.
42nd over: Pakistan 131-2 (Azhar 58, Younus 69)
Mitchell Starc gets us going after the break and it’s an action-packed start as Younus really reaches for a big out-swinger and deflects it through point for a boundary. Starc offers him a full toss next up, but he only gets a single from that. Word from Adam Collins at the ground is that even if the rain stays away we’ll still have a tea break at 4:10pm. Of course we will.
More reader unrest
Tim Montgomery is fuming. “This. Is.Madness,” he says. “Watch it sprinkle again and the.covers go back on.” Brendan Jones has more practical issues: “After getting my kids interested in cricket via the Big Bash, it was time to introduce them to the real thing. So today is their first ever day at a Test Match. We’ve been sitting here for 4 hours watching the mizzle come and go. Wish me luck in convincing them Test Cricket is not always like this!”
A reader query during the rain break
And Channel Nine have gone to a replay of the 2015 World Cup final, so we’re clearly a long way off play at the SCG...
Not a shirt sleeve update
But an equivalent from a spectator at the ground. Very grim areas.
@rustyjacko try being at the ground. Crowd just went mental for a bloke carrying three beers. It's that desperate.
@rustyjacko UPDATE: Dance cam has just been initiated. Surely we'll bottom out in this downward spiral of despair soon.
The covers are still in place at the SCG
...and things are looking so dire that Michael Clarke has just discussed at length his shirtsleeve preferences; long ones for batting, in case you were wondering. More of that sort of news as it’s at hand.
Looking ahead to Australia’s forthcoming tour of India
This just in via AAP, regarding the very – how to put it – unusual looking list of Test venues:
Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has been given assurances from his Indian equivalent there will be no schedule changes to the Test tour. Australia’s next assignment in the whites is almost certainly the sport’s toughest: facing the world No1 Test side on their own soil.
Steve Smith’s side are set to start a four-Test series in Pune on 23 February, with Bangalore, Ranchi and Dharamsala hosting the other matches. However, those venues and dates were reported to be one of many issues in a state of flux during a period of uncertainty at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The pink Test is turning into the big wet
Glenn McGrath is still in good spirits down at the boundary, even more so as the donations to the Jane McGrath Foundation continue to roll in. Day three was a total wash-out last season and we haven’t had any play so far this year, but here’s hoping the rain clears shortly.
Err, rain stopped play...again
Oh dear. Once again the rain starts falling and Mark Taylor’s frustrations are now warranted. We’ve had half an hour of sunshine in which play was suspended, now with it imminent the hessian covers go back on again. It’s only drizzle and if play was under way, it probably wouldn’t force a decision from the umpires, but because play hasn’t started yet they’ll stay off. Hopefully we’ll have some cricket soon.
The players now enter the arena
...and ceremonially hand back their pink caps in honour of Jane McGrath Day. Glenn McGrath and Tracey Bevan are shaking hands with all of the players alongside McGrath’s children, among whom his son James is the standout figure. He’s now as tall as his dad! We’ll have play in a touch under five minutes at the SCG.
There will be no pink-ball Test at the SCG next season
This via AAP:
It’s not only Sydney’s uncooperative weather raining on Glenn McGrath’s parade, with Cricket Australia ruling out any prospect of a pink-ball Test at the SCG next year. The McGrath Foundation has big plans to mark the 10th anniversary of the Pink Test in 2017, but an historic day-night fixture at one of Australia’s most iconic venues won’t be part of the celebrations.
“This is the Pink Test not to be confused with the pink-ball Test,” CA boss James Sutherland said after thanking some 100 pink-hat wearing police officers for donating their entire day’s pay to the charity on Thursday. “There’s nothing on our radar that suggests we’ll be changing this Test match from the traditional day setting.”
We’ll have play in half an hour
So 1:40pm local time, with 68 overs to be bowled if the rain holds off. That is great news, though not to Mark Taylor, who reacts as though someone has just walked mud through his house. He reckons they should be on now. “I understand the laws,” Taylor says in a tone of exasperation, “but I find this a bit strange.” His colleague Ian Chappell is calling for old-fashioned common sense, which is a tough sell when you’re sitting beside Shane Warne.
More praise for Peter Handscomb’s knock yesterday
This time from Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur, who probably wishes he had such a reliable No5 at his disposal in this Test. “We’ve tried all sorts (of tactics). We’ve analysed him to the nth degree and he just keeps coming up trumps,” Arthur says. “I’m very impressed – and we’ve seen enough of him.”
Things were a little more tolerable earlier
Especially for fans of Gladstone Small, who was ripping through Border’s Australia in highlights of the 1986-87 Ashes series. For Peter’s sake:
Nine currently showing the 86-87 Ashes in the rain break. On that note, name a more iconic duo: pic.twitter.com/ShCA0R4Ijq
Rain, rain, go away
Please. I beg of you. Instead of cricket, couch-bound Australians are currently enduring an extensive tour of the SCG sheds provided by Australian opener David Warner, and nobody deserves that. “This is the lunch room,” Warner starts. “This is where we have our lunch.”
If only flicking through the highlights, you’re right to say that is the same score as overnight, as we didn’t get a ball in before the long break. It looked promising in the hour before the scheduled start of play, but consistent rain - heavy, then light, the heavy again - thwarted the ground staff and match officials time and again.
The good news is that the covers are off and the stumps are ready to be popped in when the interval concludes at 1:10pm local time, half an hour or so from now. The better news is that it’ll be Russell Jackson taking you through the rest of the day. Thanks for your company through the grim weather. We made it work; we always do. Till soon, be well.
A big roar goes out. Yep, the rain has stopped as the covers are coming off! But here’s the thing it’s right on 12:30pm, the scheduled time for lunch. Alas, it would take at least that long to prepare the field for play anyway. But this is a good sign for play when Russell takes over not long from now.
Lunch to be formally taken at 12:30pm. But there is no chance of play before then, as it is raining heavily, and has been for at least half an hour. So let’s amuse ourselves?
Samuel Fiddian is into it on the email. Pollies and cricket our topic of choice, after yesterday’s extensive lesson on cats and communism.
Sorry to say there’s nothing nice to say. SCG is grotty, the only people in the middle sporting brollies. We’re scampering towards early lunch territory, which kicks in at midday local time if my memory of the playing conditions serves me correctly. So stand by for that. Sorry this is all a bit grim. I know this isn’t in my control, as such. I know what my therapist would say about me apologising for things that aren’t my fault. But here we are.
This was more fun, the BBL last night. As BBC commentary star Daniel Norcross calls him, the Irish vowel thief Eoin Morgan plonked a six last ball to win the game for the Thunder. What a tournament this is turning out to be.
The stuff dreams are made of! #BBL06pic.twitter.com/Ko9F3HaSGE
Oh! Anyone watching the telly? I just looked up and there is Peter Taylor bowling on debut in the 1986-87 Ashes Test at this venue. The infamous ‘Peter Who?’ selection episode. If you ever want to get the full low-down on that, dig out Christian Ryan’s feature from Inside Edge, circa 2002. It’s an indictment I know that.
What about Americans? Paul Duffy has considered this. “I’ve often thought the world would be a better place if the yanks played cricket,” he begins.
“They always have to win and win quickly and winning is everything. If they played a game where you can play for five days and it end in a draw, or even a tie, and it is still be considered a great game, they might learn that the world is about more than raw winning. Not sure Trump could learn that lesson however and I fear he would play cricket the way he plays golf. Cheating.”
Political leaders and cricket leanings is a very OBO topic, isn’t it? Thanks for your responses so far.
Matt Harris want to look to the less distant past. “For sure Bob Hawke would have been a Matthew Hayden-style, swashbuckling opener.” Matt. Mate. Please don’t mention Robert James Lee Hawke and Matthew Hayden in the same sentence again. But I take your point - Hawkey certainly plays his shots. When on radio he started talking about his grade cricket career from 1947 in Perth yesterday I pictured him on the after-hours circuit. Fearsome, no doubt.
They flirted with us there. The groundsmen that is. Off came big cover, and then the hessian. Or so it seemed. Because 30 seconds later, the light covers are back on again. And now, as I type, the big cover as well. Gross.
It is the second year in a row that the Jane McGrath Day has been effected by rain. This is the ninth year of the Pink Test, raising funds for the McGrath Foundation, established by the former Australian fast bowler and his late wife Jane to support breast care nurses. The SCG crowd are encouraged to support the fundraising effort, and also awareness by wearing pink. The Ladies’ Stand is renamed the Jane McGrath Stand for the day each year.
Bob from Paris is back. He got us going on political animals yesterday, and he’s throwing it forward this morning to see us through the rain delay. Which, all of a sudden, is a bit dire.
“I suppose we could revisit the political taxonomy of various fauna again. I’ve been storing up zingers about free-market ferrets and monarchist manatees. But I had a breakthrough today. For weeks now I’ve been asking myself how the world would now look if Donald Trump had liked cricket (I have this childish but adhesive idea that you have to be quite nice to like cricket). Today I understand my error. For, if the Donald had played, he would definitely have been an all-rounder. And thus the world would look exactly as it does now. I’m not slagging all all-rounders, but we kinda know where nature puts the cricketing arse-biscuits.”
And here come the proper covers. Illustrating that it is now proper rain. Update from Cricket Australia: there’ll be another umpire inspection at 11am. So here we are. Just us. Together at last. I’m going to grab a flat white and a banana. Back shortly.
Oh, some news from earlier. Steve Smith has won the ABC’s McGilvray Medal for the third time on the spin. The gong is voted on by the commentary team to determine their Test player of the year. It is named after Alan McGilvray, who called cricket for the national broadcaster for 50 years through to the 1980s.
Urrrrrrgggghhhhhhhhhh. It isn’t rain. It’s, I dunno. It’s not real rain. But as the umpires have strolled out for a Captain Cook the hessian has to be put on and the stumps pulled out.
Ignore what I said before about starting on time. The covers are still sitting in the outfield and we’re having an umpires inspection at 10:30am instead of the first ball. Just letting it dry out a bit more, which makes sense. It was disgusting earlier on. I got wet.
I neglected to mention.
That you can get me at all the usual places. Adam.Collins.Freelance@theguardian.com and/or @collinsadam. With any luck conversation will move to cats and communism as it did yesterday thanks to Robert McLiam Wilson and Russell Jackson. We should be so lucky.
Morning all. When setting off to the ground an hour ago I had every right to believe that we would be blogging the rain during this first session. They’d chuck an old game on the telly, and I’d throw some obscure 90s trivia at you. I was quite looking forward to it. But now, remarkably, it looks like we’re starting on time.
It is grim out, and it absolutely chucked it down, but the break has been long enough to mop the field and remove the covers. Cue the first reference of the morning to a Test venue having “excellent drainage.” Here’s a tip: they all do; it’s 2017.
Adam will be with you shortly. In the meantime, here’s the match report from day two, after which Pakistan look slightly more solid than in the disastrous start to their reply.
Related: Sydney Test: Azhar and Younus fight back after Australia pile on the runs
Continue reading...